Wet compress and container



Feb. 24, 1953 E. A. BARTON 2,629,378

WET COMPRESS AND CONTAINER Filed May 7, 1951 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 20 IN VENTOR. FIG. 6 EUGENE A. BARTON a MJMW.

A T TORNE Y Feb. 24, 1953 E. A. BARTON 2,629,378

WET COMPRESS AND CONTAINER Filed May '7 1951 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVENTOR.EUGENE A. BARTON A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WET GOMPRESS AND CONTAINER Eugene A. Barton, Baltimore, MEL,assignor of fifty per cent to James Frenkil, Baltimore,Md.

Application May 7, 1951,, Serial No. 22.4.2204

4 Claims.

This invention relates to medical supplies and more particularly to padsfor covering and treating Wounds.

The pads customarily employed for wounds are of the wet and dry types,depending on the treatment to be used in the, specific instance. The wettypes are such that they must be wetted just prior to their use, at theplace of medical care. This is often inconvenient and otherwiseobjectionable. They may be overwetted or underwetted. In the firstinstance the excess moisture becomes diiiused, when placed on the bodyof a patient, and spreads over areas not intended and into his clothes.This situation tends to keep the patient at home or in seclusion andthus interferes with his earned income. The dry type is not any moreconvenient because its use involves the additional inclusion of napkins,safety pins, tape and other extraneous items to retain it in place. Inthe invention included in this application, the pads are made primarilyfor commercial handling, in a condition ready for use, whether they arewet or dry. The Wet type are enclosed so as to provide for theapplication of the moisture at the locus that requires it. The moistureis already incorporated into the pad at the factory and remains enclosedin it while in storage, relievin the user of all effort, care and timerequired to wet the pad for use. It is applied easily and remains inplace. while at the same time, preventing the moisture from escaping outof the pad structure to other parts of the body of the user or into hisclothes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedmedicated pad that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages andlimitations of the previous articles of this nature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved medicalpad for use on the body of an individual that will serve as a wetcompress without allowing its moisture to spread beyond the specificarea it is intended for and applied to.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmedical pad that can .be constructed in a form that will permit itsbeing commercialized, rendered suitable for placement on the shelf, keptsanitary and ready for convenient use in a most effective way.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the invention ismore fully described.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and the objects thereof,reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein particular formsof the invention are illustrated by way of example. I 'hese drawings aredescribed in the following specification while the claims are includedtoindica'te the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a medical pad embodying this invention with acorner partially overlapped to show the interior construction;

Figure 2 shows the pad with its outside membrane removed;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken transversely throughthe pad .shownlin"Figure 1 on line 3-3;

Figure 4 is another modified form of pad;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Figure 4.;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line ri -6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 indicates the general position of a pad on the body;

Figure 8 is a plan showing another modified form of thepad;

Figure 9 is a plan of the pad shown in Figure 8 with the coveringmembrane removed;

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line Iii-i0 of 'Fi tlrejfif;

Figure 11 is a plan view of another modified form where a circularcontour is preferred; and

Figure '12 is a plan of an elliptical contoured form of -pad.

Similar reference characters refer to'the same parts throughout thedrawings.

In the form of pad shown in Figure 1, its structure consists of aflexible backing 2i! of rectangular contour. It is preferably made .offabric or plastic of a waterproof nature. It has a non-drying cement 24applied on a strip of the material adjacent to the peripheral borders ofthe backing. In practical forms the width of this cement strip is fromto '1'-'. Next to this strip 21 is a space 22 free of "cement. Anotherstrip of cement 2 3 of about half the width of the strip 2 is arrangedparallel to "it around the central area 25 of the backing. Within thecentral area of the pad and spaced closely to the strip 23 is a made-uppackage 24 of sterile gauze and filler. Medication may also be includedin it, as well .as sufficient moisture to make it wet. This package 24is cemented to the backing 20 so as to make it secure thereto. Thispackage 20 is the compress that is intended to .be placed on the injuredarea of the body to be treated. A waterproof inside cover or membrane2'6 is fastened to the backing 25 over the package and is kept attachedby being impressed against the inner border strip 23 of the packageindefinitely and enables it to be kept ready for use for a long time.Another cover or membrane 21 termed the outside cover or membrane isheld to the backing 20 by the outer strip of cement 2| and encloses thecover 26 and package 24. It overlaps the backing slightly to enable itto be more readily picked up by the fingers and pulled off. This cover21 keeps the interior usable part of the pad sanitary. When it isremoved, it exposes the strip of cement 2| so it can be employed tofasten the pad to the body of the user at the .area selected. Howeverbefore the pad is so attached the inside cover 26 is also removed toexpose the package or compress 24 and its contents so it may be placedin contact with the injured part. The cements used are those that areavailable on the commercial markets and suitable for the purpose.

When the pad is attached, the ingredients of the compress 24 spread overthe injured area and keep it in the proper medical condition. When theperiod of treatment is completed, the pad is pulled up so it will bereleased from the patients body. This leaves the treated and injuredarea exposed for such further attention as it may need.

The form of pad shown in Figure 8 is similar to that of Figure 1 exceptthat no inside membrane 26 is used with it. The form indicated in Figure11 is made circular and is preferably utilized for special parts of thebody that it will fit more readily, such as the breast. In Figure 12 theform is suitable for the back of the human body. In the form shown inFigure 4, the pad is usable for winding about the wrist or other limb,for the protection of the injured part. This form still comprises theouter cemented strip 2| and the spacing 22 between the strip and themedicated package 24.

The features of this invention enable it to be made up in quantities andcommercialized. It is suitable for commerce since it is ready withoutfurther'processing for use. Other pads in conventional use are notadaptable for saturated compresses. My pads can be used by an individualwithout inconvenience. His clothes need not be soiled by the use of thepad and when in use is inconspicuous. The spacing 22 between the cementstrips prevents moisture from the compress 24 escaping to the exteriorof the pad. If moisture should pass from the central area of thebacking, it will reach the space 22 and collect there and stop. Theouter strip 2| will prevent further escape of the moisture. The padisquick- 4 1y applied or removed. It can be made economically and has anattractive appearance as well as an effective action.

While several forms of the invention have been indicated, it is notdesired to limit this application for Letters Patent to such forms, asit i appreciated that other forms using the same principles can bedesigned and made, and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A medical pad comprising a flexible backing having, on one facethereof, an adhesive area following the outer periphery of the backing,a medicated package located centrally of the backing in the portionthereof free of the adhesive area, there being a space left between theconfines of the medicated package and the adhesive area to preventescape of moisture from the package when in use, and a waterproofmembrane covering the package and secured to the aforesaid adhesivearea.

2. A medical pad comprising a flexible backing having, on one facethereof, an adhesive border strip, a second adhesive border strip withinand spaced from the border strip, a medicated package located centrallyof the flexible backing on the face thereof having the adhesive strips,a membrane covering the package and secured to the second adhesiveborder strip, said membrane having its edges received in the spacebetween the two strips, and a second membrane, covering said firstmembrane and having its edges secured to the first adhesive borderstrip.

3. A medical pad comprising a flexible backing having on one facethereof an adhesive border strip, a second adhesive border strip withinand spaced from the border strip, a medicated package located centrallyof the flexible backing and spaced from said second adhesive strip, andcovering means for said package secured to both adhesive strips.

4. A medical pad as set forth in claim 3, wherein said covering meansconsists of a waterproof membrane.

EUGENE A. BARTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 716,265 McAllister Dec. 16, 19022,296,207 Kittinger Sept. 15, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,751 Great Britain of 1892 134,212 Switzerland Sept. 16, 1929 755,273France Sept. 4, 1933

